211982 -
211983 - 
211984 -
211986 - ..
2120 -
2121 -
2122 - 0740
2123 -
212301 - Reached Vernal Falls about 63 minutes from Happy Isle starting point.
212302 - Glad this was over. Don't like hiking vertically continually; however
212303 - legs and lungs felt strong. Paused to take few pictures and admire
212304 - the famous Emerald Pool.
212306 - ..
212307 - 
212308 -
212309 -
212310 -
212311 -
212313 - ..
212314 - Neveda Falls Trail Difficult to Find at Vernal Falls
212315 -
212316 - Follow up ref SDS 31 6Q63.
212317 -
212318 - Climbing up from Vernal Falls, there is a sign that says the trail
212319 - splits. John Muir Trail veering to the right is flatter and longer
212320 - about 1.6 miles. The steeper trail is only 1.3 miles. Last year took
212321 - the steep trail, reported on 130918 0620. ref SDS 31 6Q63
212323 - ..
212324 - This year decided to take the easier, flat trail to Nevada Falls in
212325 - order to reduce stress on feet problems of metatarsalgia and blisters.
212326 - So far nothing has hurt. There was still no one else on the trail.
212328 - ..
212329 - About 10% of the way up to Nevada Falls took a picutre across the
212330 - mountain...
212331 -
212332 - 
212334 - ..
212335 - Further up the trail there is a great view of Half Dome rising into
212336 - the sky up ahead...
212337 -
212338 - 
212340 - ..
212341 - Further along, Half Dome looms larger and closer, but there is still
212342 - along ways to go on the John Muir trail...
212343 -
212344 - 
212346 - ..
2124 -
2125 -
2126 - 0840
2127 -
212701 - About 2 hours into the hike, and half way to Nevada Falls feet began
212702 - to hurt a little, but not a big problem. The blister on the big toe
212703 - of the left foot was hurting at pain level 3, due to twisting and
212704 - pinching of the feet navigating the rugged trail, per above.
212705 - ref SDS 0 KM9G
212707 - ..
212708 - Noticed a team of 6 pack horses being led up the trail well below...
212709 -
212710 - 
212711 -
212712 - 
212713 -
212715 - ..
212716 - The trail gets narrow at this point, with little room for error...
212717 -
212718 - 
212720 - ..
212721 - By now thought Nevada Falls might be near, so decided to run ahead
212722 - racing the pack horse team to Nevada Falls. However, feet hurt too
212723 - much to continue running, so the horses caught up...
212724 -
212725 - 
212727 - ..
212728 - Jumped onto a big rock to let the horses pass, as they trudged along
212729 - carrying their pack loads...
212730 -
212731 - 
212732 -
212734 - ..
212735 - Nevada Falls Another Bridge Crossing Merced River
212736 -
212737 - Glad to reach Nevada Falls because by now feet hurting level 4 or 5,
212738 - and blister on toe is pain level 5 or 6. Not feeling optimistic at
212739 - this point.
212741 - ..
212742 - Crossing the bridge at Nevada Falls the Merced river winds through
212743 - Little Yosemite Valley about 4.2 miles from the trailhead at Happy
212744 - Isle, so it seems like half-way to Half Dome. The numbers are
212745 - misleading, because the next 4 miles turn out to be much more
212746 - difficult.
212747 -
212748 - 
212749 -
212750 -
212752 - ..
2128 -
2129 -
2130 - 0940
2131 -
213101 - Little Yosemite Valley Asked Directions to Half Dome
213102 -
213103 - Follow up ref SDS 31 M666.
213104 -
213105 - The trail splits again with the John Muir Trail to the right tracking
213106 - the river.
213108 - ..
213109 - 
213111 - ..
213112 - 
213113 -
213114 -
213116 - ..
213117 - Little Yosemite Valley Trail Relatively Flat .5 Miles
213118 -
213119 - Follow up ref SDS 31 M69J.
213120 -
213121 - The trail through the valley is mostly flat for about half-mile, but
213122 - very sandy. It is marked by small diameter logs on either side. A
213123 - path has been formed by hikers on the edge of the main trail because
213124 - firmer soil makes walking easier. This conserves energy. You have to
213125 - step over a few logs along the way that traverse the path and not the
213126 - main trail. These logs are mostly less than 2' in diameter, so this
213127 - is easier than walking in the sand.
213128 -
213130 - ..
2132 -
2133 -
2134 - 0950
2135 -
213501 - Ascending to Sub-Dome Swishbacks Another 4 Miles
213502 - Fire Crew Air Lifted from Fighting Major Blaze Lase Week
213503 -
213504 - Past Little Yosemite Valley, the trail gets steeper, but is still not
213505 - difficult. There is soil with shrubs, some grass, a lot of trees, and
213506 - also open space in Little Yosemite Valley.
213508 - ..
213509 - Also, encountered some of the fire fighters resting along the
213510 - trail, who had put out the big blaze raging in Yosemite just last
213511 - week...
213512 -
213513 - 
213515 - ..
213516 - This was a major blaze that closed the trail to Half Dome, shown in
213517 - nationally published photographs, like...
213518 -
213519 - http://www.trbimg.com/img-540f2bba/turbine/lat-la-me-meadow-fire-wre0021048688-20140907/1150/16x9
213521 - ..
213522 - This fire required helicopter evacuation of 100 or so hikers who made
213523 - it to the top of Half Dome, reported on 140909 1147. ref SDS 54 LQ4I
213525 - ..
213526 - The fire fighters did a good job. Today, you could see smoke from a
213527 - controlled burn on a ridge far across the cannon. But, there was no
213528 - evidence of fire on the Half Dome trail itself. More importantly,
213529 - there was no smoke in the air, which would have made breathing
213530 - difficult especially hiking at elevation 8000 feet, and more
213531 - especially coughing from illness the past weeks.
213533 - ..
213534 - About 5 minutes later, from further up the trail, a helicopter was
213535 - heard coming in to land and ferry the crew and their equipment back
213536 - down the mountain. Considered backtracking to clear the trees
213537 - blocking the view for a picture of the chopper setting down and taking
213538 - off from the landing zone (LZ). Quickly decided not to give up that
213539 - real estate, since by then pain level 5 - 8, depending on the
213540 - circumstances of each step.
213541 -
213543 - ..
2136 -
2137 -
2138 - 1045
2139 -
213901 - Hike was slowing down at this point. Other hikers began to catch up.
213903 - ..
213904 - Here another hiker was taking a picture of a deer that wandered onto
213905 - the trail...
213906 -
213907 - 
213908 -
213909 - 
213911 - ..
213912 - Half Dome Trail Above Little Yosemite Valley Difficult to Find
213913 -
213914 - Follow up ref SDS 31 PM31.
213915 -
213916 - Trail then turns into large irregular stone steps comprising long
213917 - swishbacks of 5 - 20 yards, and going continually uphill, similar to
213918 - the .7 mile Vernal Falls trail, explained last year on 130918,
213919 - ref SDS 31 J65I, but for about 3 miles. This trail is mostly open and
213920 - mostly wider, rather narrow and along the edge of a gourge, like the
213921 - Mist trail.
213923 - ..
213924 - Unlike last year, at this time, did not overtake other hikers,
213925 - reported on 130918 0620. ref SDS 31 QY6L Actually, everyone seemed
213926 - to be passing me, because had to stop to rest feet.
213928 - ..
213929 - The trail is very rugged and often hard to discern direction. Where
213930 - there is soil, foot prints show the way. Asked for directions several
213931 - times and followed the crowd.
213933 - ..
213934 - Had to stop more often this year, 5 or 6 times to rest for a few
213935 - minutes, but did not drink water nor eat anything. Decided to save
213936 - this until reaching the beginning of the swishbacks to the sub-dome.
213937 - Like last year, the legs never cramped.
213938 -
213939 -
213941 - ..
2140 -
2141 -
2142 - 1113
2143 -
214301 - Cables Permits Checked by Forest Service Rangers
214302 - Permits Hike Cables Checked by Forest Service Rangers
214303 - Forest Service Rangers Checked for Permits Hike Cables
214304 -
214305 - Follow up ref SDS 31 W77N.
214306 -
214307 - At this point, encountered the Forest Ranger crew checking for permits
214308 - to take the cables to the top of Half Dome. Did not realize this was
214309 - the crew, and just walked past a man a woman sitting along the side of
214310 - the trail, thinking they were just resting like other hikers who stop
214311 - at various places.
214313 - ..
214314 - The guy was actually holding a notebook computer, and as I walked on
214315 - up the trail, he asked if I was trying to "sneak by?"
214317 - ..
214318 - Gave him my name, and explained the other 3 parties did not make the
214319 - hike today, so these cable permits are available for others, like we
214320 - did last year, reported on 130918 0620. ref SDS 31 HE8N Today, there
214321 - were no other hikers sitting around nearby to claim the 3 permits,
214322 - but that may occur later, since last year I was 2 hours later than
214323 - today.
214325 - ..
214326 - Asked why the permit crew is farther down the trail than last year,
214327 - when permits were requested at the point of beginning the swishbacks
214328 - up to the sub-dome. The ranger explained the team check-in location
214329 - varies from year-to-year. He said that today, they are about 1.5
214330 - miles from the top of Half Dome.
214332 - ..
214333 - Went on up the trail.
214334 -
214335 -
214337 - ..
2144 -
2145 -
2146 - 1123
2147 -
214701 - Sub Dome Swishbacks Leading to Cables Ended Hike Ascent
214702 - Hike Ended Ascent Sub Dome Swishbacks Leading to Cables
214703 -
214704 - Reached elevation 7,900 feet and 6.9 miles. There is a clearing with
214705 - flat, rocky terraine, but somehow big trees are growing. This is near
214706 - the base of the Sub Dome. You can look up and see Half Dome in the
214707 - distance, but not the cables. They are on the other side, as reported
214708 - last year on 130918 0620. ref SDS 31 3X6G
214710 - ..
214711 - Decided to take a break for something to eat and drink.
214713 - ..
214714 - Found a big log to sit and eat and drink. Removed the backpack used
214715 - on this hike, per above, ref SDS 0 XF4M, and found the Pro Bars and
214716 - Nuun Energy Pills purchased at REI for food and energy on the hike,
214717 - reported on 140914 1527. ref SDS 57 KM4M
214719 - ..
214720 - Had to bite the energy pill in half in order to fit into the water
214721 - bottle. Squeezed both halves into the bottle and let them disolve.
214723 - ..
214724 - Drank some of thie energy drink, and took a bite of the Pro Bar.
214726 - ..
214727 - They were both awful to taste. So, wound up taking only a few sips of
214728 - water and 2 small bites of the Pro Bar. This was supposed to work
214729 - better than Cherrios and water that worked well on the hike last year
214730 - for getting to the top of Half Dome, reported on 130918 0620.
214731 - ref SDS 31 0W3L
214733 - ..
214734 - At this point decided to turn back. Seemed like the Gods were against
214735 - the hike today. Not only did the 49ers lose to Chicago on Sunday, the
214736 - Yankees were knocked out of the playoffs - sure signs of bad Karma.
214738 - ..
214739 - Body felt okay, but metatarsalgia pain level 5 - 8, and blister on
214740 - inside of big toe left foot suffered pain level 10 despite using
214741 - special bandage scheme this morning that was developed in the ER at
214742 - the VA, per above. ref SDS 0 XE6J Pain from the blister was
214743 - unexpected, because there has been no pain the past few weeks on daily
214744 - 11 mile hikes, even without bandaging, so extra precaution bandaging
214745 - the blister location this morning seemed likely to be adequate despite
214746 - increased difficulty of terraine on the Half Dome trail. Similarly,
214747 - pain level above 5 for metatrsalgia was unexpected, because this has
214748 - not occurred the past few weeks wearing Superfeet orthotic inserts,
214749 - e.g., hiking Rim Trail at Lafayette Reservoir last Friday, on 140912,
214750 - which has difficult terraine similar to Half Dome, albeit only 2 of
214751 - the 5 mile route, reported in case study on 120101 0900. ref SDS 14
214752 - 564M Evidently 7 miles hiked on Half Dome today so far reached a
214753 - cirtical mass that overwhelmed prior level of recovery.
214755 - ..
214756 - [On 120101 0900 at 140920 did 11 mile hike and suffered no
214757 - pain from blistering callus on inside of big toe left foot,
214758 - possibly because omitted bulky bandage that crimped the
214759 - callused tissue. ref SDS 14 E34N
214761 - ..
214762 - Accordingly, these were bad signals that continuing could cause severe
214763 - injury, which would make recovery very difficult. Walking down hill
214764 - relieved pain, walking uphill increased the pain, so easy decision.
214766 - ..
214767 - The food situation, expected to work better in post hike planning last
214768 - year on 130918 0620, ref SDS 31 BJ5K, was not effective today.
214770 - ..
214771 - Rested here for about 15 minutes debating whether to continue.
214773 - ..
214774 - Finally, headed up the trail a hundred yards and reached the base of
214775 - the Sub Dome. Started up the swishbacks, but decided to defer this
214776 - and the cables to next year, when feet are less problematic.
214777 -
214778 -
214779 -
214781 - ..
2148 -
2149 -
2150 - 1226
2151 -
215101 - Half Dome Top Not Reached Returned to Vernal Falls
215102 - Vernal Falls Returned before Reaching Top Half Dome
215103 -
215104 - Follow up ref SDS 31 FF5G.
215105 -
215106 - Going downhill was much easier on feet and blisters than going
215107 - uphill.
215109 - ..
215110 - Made it through Little Yosemite Valley, and took a picture of Merced
215111 - River before it flows over Nevada Falls, and continues on to Vernal
215112 - Falls, far below. At this point it looks like a very river or stream,
215113 - but with plenty of water...
215114 -
215115 - 
215116 -
215117 -
215119 - ..
215120 - John Muir Trail Longer Not Much Easier than Shorter Trail
215121 - Falling Fatigue No Injuries Hurrying to Avoid Hiking at Night
215122 - Ross Notified Reached Top of Half Dome Cellphone Call
215123 -
215124 - Follow up ref SDS 31 JA9O.
215125 -
215126 - Decided to take the short, steep route down from Nevada Falls to
215127 - Vernal Falls. Last year took this route up from Vernal Falls to
215128 - Nevada Falls, reported on 130918 0620, ref SDS 31 6Q63, and took the
215129 - long, easier route down from Nevada Falls to Vernal Falls. ref SDS 31
215130 - JA9O This year, did the opposite - took longer, flatter route up, per
215131 - above, ref SDS 0 6Q63 - but, took the shorter, more difficult steep
215132 - route down.
215133 -
215135 - ..
2152 -
2153 -
2154 - 1347
2155 -
215501 - On reaching Vernal Falls there were lots of people who had made the
215502 - hike up the Mist trail. There was a group of young people, seemed
215503 - like high school age, listening to a Ranger explain something about
215504 - the history of Yosemite Valley...
215505 -
215506 - 
215508 - ..
215509 - Unlike this morning, only one person was at Vernal Falls, when I
215510 - arrived, this afternoon, more people were looking out over the safety
215511 - rail at the Valley below...
215512 -
215513 - 
215515 - ..
215516 - Called and left message for Ross that the hike crashed.
215518 - ..
215519 - Called and left message for Kathy that was at Vernal Falls, and
215520 - looking down at the Wood Bridge below. Make a joke about seeing her
215521 - on the bridge, and congratulated her on breaking her record last
215522 - year, making it half way to the wood bridge.
215524 - ..
215525 - Slipped and lost balance several times stepping down the stones and
215526 - boulders that comprise the trail, similar to last year, reported on
215527 - 130918 0620. ref SDS 31 KF5I Today, fell more than last year, 3 or 4
215528 - times due to feet pain, however, the ascent overall was easier in the
215529 - light of day, rather than the dark of night, as occurred last year,
215530 - shown on 130918 0620. ref SDS 31 H84K
215532 - ..
215533 - Coming down from Vernal Falls, saw a few people ignoring posted
215534 - warnings of danger going off the trail. Some were swimming in the
215535 - pool at the bottom of the falls, while others watched from cliffs
215536 - above the water...
215537 -
215538 - 
215539 -
215540 - 
215542 - ..
215543 - 
215545 - ..
215546 - 
215547 -
215548 -
215549 -
215551 - ..
215552 - Wood Bridge End of Difficult Trail
215553 -
215554 - Was glad to reach the Wood Foot Bridge.
215556 - ..
215557 - Took a long drink from the water fountains at the bridge, like last
215558 - year on 130918 0620, ref SDS 31 H84K
215560 - ..
215561 - Unlike last year crossing the Wood Bridge in the dark, today in the
215562 - warm afternoon sun, a lot of people were sitting in groups to rest at
215563 - the foot bridge...
215564 -
215565 - 
215567 - ..
215568 - After getting water, continued down the Mist Trail a mile to the Happy
215569 - Isle trailhead. Very pleased that the trail for the final descent is
215570 - paved.
215572 - ..
215573 - On reaching the trail head, walked to Happy Isle shuttle stop #16
215574 - across a bridge about 100 yards away.
215576 - ..
215577 - Waited about 10 minutes for the next bus.
215579 - ..
215580 - Seemed like it took forever to get from stop #16, to the end of the
215581 - line at stop #21, then back to stop #8 at Yosemite Lodge (see
215582 - Yosemite Valley Shuttle System map...
215583 -
215584 - http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/valleyshuttle.pdf
215586 - ..
215587 - Feet were hurting, so asked person sitting next to me on the aisle to
215588 - let me get up, and change seats, so could stretch the feet out to
215589 - relieve pain.
215590 -
215591 -
215592 -
215594 - ..
2156 -
2157 -
2158 - 1533
2159 -
215901 - Recovery Half Dome Hike Kathy Triumphant Ascent to Wood Bridge
215902 - Kathy Triumphant Ascent to Wood Bridge Recovery Half Dome Hike
215903 - Half Dome Becons Majestically Above the Valley to Return Next Year
215904 -
215905 - Follow up ref SDS 31 XU6N.
215906 -
215907 - When the shuttle arrived at Yosemite Lodge about 1530, walked to the
215908 - room at Maple complex.
215910 - ..
215911 - Kathy was in the room and had great news. She had not only reached
215912 - the Wood Bridge today, she went on up to nearly half way to Vernal
215913 - Falls. This exceeded her goal from last year. She may may have just
215914 - left the bridge, when I called from the top of Vernal Falls, per
215915 - above. ref SDS 0 M45L
215917 - ..
215918 - Apart from the feet, actually felt much better this year, since did
215919 - not go all the way to the top of Half Dome. We celbrated Kathy's big
215920 - day with dinner at the Yosemite Lodge cafeteria. After dinner a
215921 - picture showed no worse for the wear...
215922 -
215923 - 
215925 - ..
215926 - Parting picture of Half Dome glittering far off in the dusk of
215927 - evening, a majestic reminder that becons still for next year...
215928 -
215929 - 
215931 - ..
215932 - This year slept well, because body was not hurting like last year on
215933 - 130918 0620. ref SDS 31 K66L
215934 -
215935 -
216003 -
216004 -
216005 -
216006 -
216007 -
216008 -
216009 -
216010 -
216011 -
2161 -